Long-term weight reduction of obese patients using femoxetine

Abstract

A method for assisting with appetite and weight control and reduction in obese human patients, which comprises the step of orally or rectally administering an appetite-suppressant compound selected from the group consisting of femoxetine and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof in an effective appetite-suppressant amount over a period of at least eight (8) weeks is disclosed. The appetite-suppresssant compound is preferably orally administered together with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier in a daily dosage of 100 to 1,000 mg in the form of a tablet containing about 100 to 300 mg of the appetite-suppressant compound, which is preferably a pharmaceutically-acceptable femoxetine acid addition salt, especially the hydrochloride.

We claim: 
     
       1. The method of reducing appetite to obtain weight control and reduction in an obese human patient which comprises the step of orally or rectally administering to the said patient an appetite suppressing amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of femoxetine and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof over a period of at least eight (8) weeks. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered together with a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered orally in a daily dosage of about 100 to 1,000 mg. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered orally in a daily dosage of about 400 to 600 mg. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered orally in an oral unit dosage form containing about 100 to 300 mg thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered orally in an oral unit dosage form containing about 100 mg thereof. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered rectally in a daily dosage of about 50 to 600 mg. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered in the form of a rectal suppository containing about 50 to 600 mg thereof. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered in the form of a rectal suppository containing about 300 mg of the active ingredient. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered over a period in excess of eight (8) weeks. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered over a period of at least twelve (12) weeks. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 1, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered daily over a period in excess of eight (8) weeks. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is administered daily over a period of at least twelve (12) weeks. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12, wherein the appetite-suppressant compound is a femoxetine pharmaceutically-acceptable acid addition salt which is orally-administered in a daily dosage of 100 to 1,000 mg in the form of a tablet containing about 100 to 300 mg thereof. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, wherein the compound is femoxetine hydrochloride. 
     
     
       16. The method of reducing appetite to obtain weight control and reduction in an obese human patient on a long-term basis without the development of anorectic tolerance on the part of the patient which comprises the step of orally administering to the said patient an appetite suppressing amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of femoxetine and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof over an extended period, the daily dosage being about 100 to 1,000 mg in a unit-dosage form containing about 100 to 300 mg thereof.